"What’s that smell that smacks you in the face and then envelops your bad self when you come through the door? It’s the earthy tones of Mexico, amigo. Mole in the pot, dried beer and tequila on the wooden bar, lard in the skillet, and you are in Cantina Mayahuel (2934 Adams Ave., University Heights. 619-283-6292 or cantinamayahuel.com) Although the menu is as limited as the tequila selection is plentiful, the tacos, especially the carnitas, are genuine and splendid. The daunting tequila selection need not detain you — go for La Fortaleza Blanco, produced by Guillermo Sauza, whom you might just find holding forth in the patio dining area." — Gary W. Schons, state prosecutor, avid diner

"Las Cuatro Milpas is deserving of its cult following and gets a big nod as an overall restaurant. As far as something truly Mexican, there’s one dish I immensely enjoy south of the border that I’ve only found at Mi Guadalajara (525 W. Second Ave., Escondido. 760-746-4371 or miguadalajararestaurant.com) — molcajete. Named after the vessel it’s cooked in, a large mortarlike bowl often made out of volcanic rock, it comes to the table like a bubbling witch’s caldron filled with a medium-bodied spicy adobe-hued broth. Arranged along the side of the molcajete is a myriad of delights including steak, chicken, creamy queso fresco, grilled scallions and ribbons of nopales (cactus paddles). Served with fresh tortillas and traditional accoutrements (guacamole, frijoles, etc.), it’s the edible equivalent of a choose-your-own-adventure book devoid of any perilous possibilities." — Brandon Hernández, food writer (Twitter @offdutyfoodie)

"You have to get the carne asada fries at Armando’s Mexican Food (2295 Palm Ave. Suite C, San Diego. 619-424-3291) in the South Bay, located in a teeny-tiny strip mall on Palm Avenue. They’re open 24/7 and I grew up eating this stuff. Armando’s three rolled tacos with guacamole also works wonders on my happiness." — Joanne Arellano, human resources professional, avid Yelper, avid diner

"My go-to places include El Zarape Restaurant (3201 Adams Ave., San Diego. 619-578-2600 or elzarape.biz); El Comal (3946 Illinois St., San Diego. 619-294-8292 or elcomalsd.com), which serves a cochinita pibil that I swoon for; and romantic, candlelit Candelas (San Diego and Coronado; candelas-sd.com). At La Especial Norte in Encinitas (664 N. Coast Highway 101, Leucadia; 760-942-1040 or laespecial101.com), I’m all about los caldos. Those soups come in 17 different varieties of fragrant soul-satisfaction — the posole with succulent nuggets of pork and tender hominy is an addiction. I wrap the chunky stuff up in a buttered corn tortilla and dip it into the soup. Nom nom!" — Tina Luu, pastry chef, food lecturer at the Art Institute of California San Diego

"El Vitral next to Petco Park downtown serves authentic Mexican cuisine with a modern twist. All of their menu options are tempting, but their brunch is exceptional. I swoon over their Oaxaca cheese and squash blossom quesadillas and their shrimp and mushroom tacos with chipotle aioli and avocado cream. They also make a mouth-tingling margarita the old-fashioned way with freshly squeezed lime juice, curacao, and natural fruit purées rather than mixes." — Susan Russo, cookbook author, blogger (foodblogga.blogspot.com)

"So obvious. Tacos el Gordo (various locations) & Las Cuatro Milpas. The former for legendary lengua tacos (actually, you can’t go wrong with any of their tacos). The latter for the awesome chorizo and beans bowl. (And the lovely ladies who run the joint? Priceless.)" — Anthony Schmidt, bartender at Noble Experiment

"Los tres deliciosos: 1) Ortega’s on University Ave. in Hillcrest. Constant and true. Walks the border (sorry) between tasty street- and traditional-restaurant Mexican food. 2) El Agave Restaurant and Tequileria in Old Town. A tequila museum with over 2,000 selections. And that should be enough. But wait...Their chefs offer a ‘nuevo cuisine’ survey course of Mexico’s diverse regional dishes. No burritos here. 3) Karina’s Mexican Seafood Cuisine in National City, where families flock on Saturday and Sunday because it’s the real deal in fresh fish and traditional Mexican food." — Charles Kaufman, baker, owner of Bread & Cie Cafe

"I love El Vitral in the Gaslamp for the tasty & creative dishes (and GREAT tequila selection). I love El Callejon in Encinitas, they’ll make you a pretty good Pescado al Mojo de Ajo if you ask. However, maybe the best Mex-thentic food in town has got to be Las Cuatro Milpas. I’ve been eating their awesome tacos since my early nineties college days and they are to die for every time." — Dave Morgan, CPA, avid diner

"I left this question in the hands of my colleague Jesse Rodriguez, my sommelier at Addison, whom I trust. Jesse’s top choice for tried-and-true Mexican food is Pokez (947 E St., downtown. 619-702-7160; pokezsd.com)…he’s somewhat of a regular." — William Bradley, executive chef at Addison

"Due to the fact that there are so many fantastic Mexican joints in this town, this question seems practically impossible and inevitably unfair. Final answer: El Zarape (4642 Park Blvd., University Heights. 619-692-1652). I can’t stop going back." — Sara Hanson, fine wine specialist and blogger (thesarkuswineblog.com)

"Las Cuatro Milpas (1875 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. 619-234-4460). Everybody knows the best soul food is in the hood. A couple of tips: Know what you’re getting, you’ve gotta keep the line moving. Order everything you need the first time through. Noon is the busiest time and the line is pretty long, so go between 1 and 3 p.m. Avoid direct eye contact with the dude selling jeans out of a shopping cart and you will be ready for some of the finest ghetto food in the country." — Ricardo Heredia, executive chef at Alchemy Restaurant

"I like Super Cocina or Tacos El Paisa for old-school or Baja-style Mexican, but if you are looking for more modern alternatives in more hip environments then Barrio Star or El Vitral." — Jeff Josenhans, director of beverage outlets and sommelier at U.S. Grant Hotel

"Even though I really never had a true Mexican meal, or at least nothing similar to a “like water for chocolate” experience (when that movie came out, my sous-chef at the time was an amazing Mexican cook trained in Italy at his girlfriend turned wife’s family in Positano, we swear we were gonna open a French-Mexican fine dining place and make people cry with our Quail in rose petals! Never happened but I still remember the passions that movie stirred in my heart...) I had my share of ho-hum mexican meals but there are always something that I like in Mexican restaurants or taco shops so here is a few of my favorites: more family oriented is SUPER COCINA on University Ave. featuring many recipes and a buffet, so nothing fancy but simple good food. For tacos I like TACOS EL PAISA, on National Ave. and EL COMAL on Illinois St., good goat tacos! And finally for more upscale Mexican, I really liked Candelas, I haven’t been there in awhile and it seems that they have grown a bit...May be some of my fellow superdiners have the latest info on the place!" — Fabrice Poigin, private chef, restaurant consultant

"Most San Diegans, including myself, hear someone mention Mexican food and they think of their favorite carne asada burrito, usually consumed as a fourth meal after a night out, and I do have my favorites. That being said I was lucky enough to have recently experienced the amazing Mexican culinary delights at Candelas on the Bay across the bridge on Coronado Island. Their unique combinations and Mexico City-style cuisine are a real change of pace from the traditional Mexican food we’ve all come to know and love. Plus you can’t beat the amazing view from their dining room of the San Diego skyline from a different perspective." — David Salisbury, a law firm’s director of business development, avid diner

"I really love what El Vitral restaurant is doing. Chef Norma Martinez has taken classic dishes from regions throughout Mexico and given them a modern sophisticated twist, and I love the tequila list." — Bill Sysak, beverage supervisor at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens